Kentucky Women Writers Conference
The Kentucky Women Writers Conference had its beginnings in 1979[1] as a celebration of women writers at the University of Kentucky (UK). That first year featured Maya Angelou, Toni Cade Bambara, Ruth Stone, Alice Walker, and Ruth Whitman. Since then, it has become the longest-running annual festival of women writers in the nation, showcasing the talents and issues addressed by established and emerging authors.
UK History faculty Nancy Dye had suggested using surplus funds from Undergraduate Studies to bring women writers to campus. UK English faculty Linda Pannill formulated the idea of an annual event called the University of Kentucky Women Writers Conference. Pannill and a 16-member committee from the departments of English, Honors, Undergraduate Studies, and Special Collections, along with members of the Lexington community, produced the conference. In 1984–1985 the conference was directed by UK English faculty Jane Gentry Vance, who later served as Kentucky’s Poet Laureate.
In 1985–1993, the conference was affiliated with Continuing Education for Women/University Extension and directed by Betty Gabehart. As the conference’s longest-running director, Gabehart made significant contributions to its enduring legacy and stability, establishing much of the reputation it enjoys today. In 1994–1996, the conference was affiliated with the Women's Studies Program and directed by Jan Oaks, faculty in English and Gender and Women’s Studies. In 1997, former Conference assistant Patti DeYoung served as director.
In 1998 the conference lost university funding when it was unable to find a sponsoring department, and its advisory board established itself as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Its new home became the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning in downtown Lexington, and it was renamed the Kentucky Women Writers Conference. Its director during those years, 1998–2002, was Jan Isenhour, also director of the Carnegie Center, and its work was carried out by a volunteer board.
In 2002 President Lee Todd reinstated support for the conference to demonstrate the university’s commitment to women’s programming and community events. Since then, the Conference leadership has continued cultivating wide community support through many partnerships and the committed efforts of its board and volunteers. UK provides staff salaries, office space, and the majority of KWWC’s operating expenses. Financial support from the Kentucky Foundation for Women, LexArts, the Kentucky Arts Council, the Kentucky Humanities Council, businesses, and individual patrons remains critical to our ability to attract writers of the highest caliber.
Directors since then have been Brenda Weber (2003) and Rebecca Gayle Howell (2004–06). Howell launched several free community events that have become signature offerings of the conference, including the Gypsy Slam, the Sonia Sanchez Series, and the Hardwick/Jones keynote reading on mentorship and collaboration. In 2007, Julie Kuzneski Wrinn became Conference director
The 32nd annual Kentucky Women Writers Conference was held on September 10-12, 2010 in Lexington. Diane Ackerman, Heather Sellers, Patricia Smith, Mary Ann Taylor-Hall, and Valerie Wilson Wesley and five others led writing workshops, readings, and discussions.
The 33rd annual Kentucky Women Writers Conference was held on September 15-17, 2011 in Lexington. The Keynote Speaker was Francine Prose.[2] There were workshops and craft talks with poets Lynnell Edwards, Krista Franklin, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, and Susan Stewart, fiction writers Tananarive Due, Francine Prose, and Danzy Senna, and creative nonfiction writer Kim Dana Kupperman.
The 34th annual Kentucky Women Writers Conference will be held on September 21-22, 2012 in Lexington. The Keynote Speaker will be Ruth Reichl, a well-known writer, editor, and food critic. Other presenters include: Kim Addonizio, Tara Betts, Sallie Bingham, Karen Joy Fowler, Debra Gwartney, Rebecca Gayle Howell, Nancy Jensen, Julia Johnson, Kelly Link, Tori Murden McClure, Naomi Wallace, and literary agent Anna Sproul.
References
- ^ "Food writer Ruth Reichl will speak at Kentucky Women Writers Conference". Lexington Herald-Leader. December 10, 2011.
- ^ Truman, Cheryl (September 11, 2011). "A Herald-Leader Q&A with writer Francine Prose". Lexington Herald-Leader.